Evaluation of social interaction during occupational engagement

Effective interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to address participation for adults with aphasia: A systematic review

Introduction

Occupational therapists work with clients with impaired communication to re-engage in valued occupations. This systematic review seeks to answer the question: What are effective interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to address participation for adults with aphasia?

Method

A systematic review of the literature was completed using PubMed, PsychInfo, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and OT Seeker databases. Intervention studies within the scope of occupational therapy practice with a participation outcome, and published in peer reviewed journals from 2000 to 2019, were included. The quality of each study was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Findings

Thirteen articles fit the inclusion criteria. Categories of interventions that emerged from the data include community-based groups, individually tailored programs, adaptation/presentation of materials, interprofessional interventions, and psychoeducation.

Conclusion

There is evidence to support the use of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to increase participation for people with aphasia. Specifically, the use of community-based groups and adaptation of materials are effective to facilitate participation. Most of the studies were pre-post one group design; however, they demonstrated positive results for participation outcomes. More research is needed on people with aphasia that focuses on participation in meaningful occupations.

Experiences of Veterans Transitioning to Postsecondary Education

An increasing number of U.S. military veterans are entering postsecondary education with problems attributed to deployed military service. The primary objective of this research was to describe the lived experiences of student veterans transitioning from active military service to postsecondary education. Phenomenological interviews were performed with 13 student veterans who had transitioned from military deployment to postsecondary education. An overall essential meaning of "emerging in college culture" was manifested from three themes, supported by rich textural and structural descriptions of student veterans' experiences: (1) repurposing military experiences for life as a student veteran, (2) reconstructing civilian identity, and (3) navigating postsecondary context and interactions. These findings highlight implications that may facilitate occupational therapists' efforts in supporting the needs of student veterans.

Effects of a social internet-based intervention programme for older adults: An explorative randomised crossover study

Introduction

Restraints and changes in social activities might contribute to loneliness and health decline for older adults. To reduce loneliness and support activities, social internet-based interventions are indicated to be effective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a social internet-based intervention for older adults who are vulnerable to loneliness.

Method

An explorative, randomised, crossover study with an AB/BA sequence was completed. The intervention was conducted over a period of three months. Thirty participants were included (24 women and six men, 61–89 years old) and allocated to two groups. Data were collected at three time points. The primary outcome was the UCLA loneliness scale, and the secondary outcomes were satisfaction with social contacts and social interaction skills. Statistical analyses were conducted with the paired t-test, Wilcoxon's signed-rank test and repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Results

Loneliness was significantly decreased in both groups post intervention, and satisfaction with social contacts online significantly increased in one group. Significant treatment effects were detected for all outcomes.

Conclusion

The results of the social internet-based intervention programme are promising, but further evaluations are needed.

Evaluating the Psychometric Quality of Social Skills Measures: A Systematic Review

Introduction

Impairments in social functioning are associated with an array of adverse outcomes. Social skills measures are commonly used by health professionals to assess and plan the treatment of social skills difficulties. There is a need to comprehensively evaluate the quality of psychometric properties reported across these measures to guide assessment and treatment planning.

Objective

To conduct a systematic review of the literature on the psychometric properties of social skills and behaviours measures for both children and adults.

Methods

A systematic search was performed using four electronic databases: CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase and Pubmed; the Health and Psychosocial Instruments database; and grey literature using PsycExtra and Google Scholar. The psychometric properties of the social skills measures were evaluated against the COSMIN taxonomy of measurement properties using pre-set psychometric criteria.

Results

Thirty-Six studies and nine manuals were included to assess the psychometric properties of thirteen social skills measures that met the inclusion criteria. Most measures obtained excellent overall methodological quality scores for internal consistency and reliability. However, eight measures did not report measurement error, nine measures did not report cross-cultural validity and eleven measures did not report criterion validity.

Conclusions

The overall quality of the psychometric properties of most measures was satisfactory. The SSBS-2, HCSBS and PKBS-2 were the three measures with the most robust evidence of sound psychometric quality in at least seven of the eight psychometric properties that were appraised. A universal working definition of social functioning as an overarching construct is recommended. There is a need for ongoing research in the area of the psychometric properties of social skills and behaviours instruments.

Systematic Review of Studies on Measurement Properties of Instruments for Adults Published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2009–2013

OBJECTIVE. We describe the methodological quality of recent studies on instrument development and testing published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT).

METHOD. We conducted a systematic review using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist to appraise 48 articles on measurement properties of assessments for adults published in AJOT between 2009 and 2013.

RESULTS. Most studies had adequate methodological quality in design and statistical analysis. Common methodological limitations included that methods used to examine internal consistency were not consistently linked to the theoretical constructs underpinning assessments; participants in some test–retest reliability studies were not stable during the interim period; and in several studies of reliability and convergent validity, sample sizes were inadequate.

CONCLUSION. AJOT’s dissemination of psychometric research evidence has made important contributions to moving the profession toward the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Centennial Vision. This study’s results provide a benchmark by which to evaluate future accomplishments.

Assessing the sensitivity of the evaluation of social interaction: comparing social skills in children with and without disabilities

OBJECTIVE

We examined the sensitivity of the Evaluation of Social Interaction (ESI) as a measure of the overall quality of social interaction in children as they engage in social exchanges in a natural context with typical social partners.

METHOD

We compared the ESI measures of 23 children with disabilities with those of 23 children without disabilities, matched by age and gender.

RESULTS

Paired t-test analysis revealed a statistically significant difference, t(22) = -4.065, p = .001, in the quality of social interaction for the two groups of children, indicating sensitivity of the ESI.

CONCLUSION

The results support the use of the ESI to measure quality of social interaction in a natural context.

Sensitivity of the evaluation of social interaction measures among people with and without neurologic or psychiatric disorders

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the Evaluation of Social Interaction (ESI) is sensitive enough to differentiate between people without identified diagnoses and those with neurologic or psychiatric disorders in terms of their observed quality of social interaction.

METHOD

Participants were age 16-69 and were without identified diagnoses (n = 304) or had neurologic (n = 77) or psychiatric (n = 104) disorders. They were evaluated using the ESI.

RESULTS

Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis tests and post hoc Mann-Whitney U tests revealed that the group without identified diagnoses had significantly better quality of social interaction than did either group with disabilities (Us = 3,172 and 3,189, respectively; p ≤ .001).

CONCLUSION

The ESI is sensitive with regard to detecting differences in quality of social interaction among groups expected to differ, suggesting that it is valid for use when the desired purpose is to identify people with diminished quality of social interaction.

Five years of mental health research in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2009-2013

In the past 5 years, the number of research articles on occupational therapy in mental health published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy has steadily declined. This article identifies the strengths and limitations of this body of research and provides directions for practitioners and researchers to enhance the profession's role as a valued mental health service provider.

Measurement characteristics of the engagement in meaningful activities survey in an age-diverse sample

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the measurement characteristics of the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey (EMAS) in an age-diverse sample.

METHOD

The sample included 154 older adults and 122 college students (age range = 18-100 yr). A Rasch-Andrich rating scale model was used to evaluate the EMAS. Analyses addressed rating scale design, person and item fit, item hierarchy, model unidimensionality, and differential item functioning.

RESULTS

Category functioning was improved by reducing the EMAS item responses to four categories. Adequate person response validity was established, and all but one EMAS item demonstrated an ideal fit to the Rasch measurement model. After establishing the item hierarchy, I found the EMAS to be a unidimensional measure. Differential item functioning was not detected using Bonferroni-adjusted statistical criteria.

CONCLUSION

The results confirm the potential to validly measure subjective qualities of meaningful activity participation. The EMAS can be used to evaluate processes and outcomes central to occupational therapy practice and to aid in the design of therapeutic occupations.

State of Mental Health Research in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2008–2011

In this article, I examine the state of mental health research in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy from 2008 to 2011. Although other practice areas have seen an increase in the number and rigor of intervention effectiveness studies, mental health occupational therapy research has been insufficient to support the profession’s role in traditional mental health services. Strategies to enhance the profession’s role in mental health practice are suggested and include using occupational therapy behavioral health management research in school-based and transition services to support occupational therapy’s role in traditional mental health practice settings.